Loose-leaf file



C.- F. McBEE;

LOOSE LEAF FILE.

APPLICATIQN man FEB. 13. 1917.

1,362,951, y Patented De@.21,1920.

/w f @o JNVENTOR.

BY Z/ W1;

A TTORNEY nNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. Menen, or aTHnNs, omo.

LOOSE-LEAF FILE.

Application led February 13, 1917. Serial No.,148,303.

' T 0 all whom t may conoci-1t.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES l?. MoBnn,a citizen of the United States, residing in Athens, county of 'thens, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Loose-Leaf Files, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf file, in the form of a book, so con* structed that in appearancel and for the general convenience of reference it is, to all intents and purposes, a book, but the back thereof being so constructed that when a releasing lever is operated each side of the open book will flatten out on the table, the retaining posts for the leaves being separated so that any leaf contained within the file may be easily and quickly removed, or additional leaves inserted at any desired place. A further object is to construct such a le that, when unlocked and open for the removal or insertion of papers, the mere clos` ing of the iile will automatically lock the same against the re-opening of the securing posts when the file is re-opened for reference. A further object is to produce such a tile in a simple and convenient construction.

My invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter set forth and pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows an end elevation my device;

Fig. 2 shows an end elevation view of my device, the securing posts being in an open position to receive papers, a part of the covers of the iile being broken away, and no papers being shown therein;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view, looking at the inside of a portion of an empty file, the members forming the back being secured together by my locking means;

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the reference numerals and 11 are used to indicate mating, or companion, L-shaped members forming the back for my file, said members being hinged together as shown at 12, so that when they are locked by my locking means the two members will form a U- shaped back, as shown in Fig. 1, the pro jecting portions of the U being substantially at right angles to the base portion thereof. The numerals 13 and 14 indicate companion view of members forming a part of my lockingI means,the member 13 beingl secured to the member 10, and the member 14 being secured to the member 11, in such manner that when the file is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, these two members will be in line with each other and parallel to the base portion of the back, the twornembers overlapping. ln the member 14,1 have provided a slot 15 designed to Vreceive the end of a: spring lsecured to the back memberl 1'1, the mounting being suchzthat the tension of the spring 16 holds it, by compression, in the base of the slot 15. The end of the locking member 13 is tapering, as shown at 17, and immediately to the rear of this tapering portion I have provided a recess 18, which is designed to receive the spring 16. The slot 15 and the recess 18 are so placediwithin their respective locking members that when the file is closed they will be in line with each other.

The numerals 19 and 20 indicate slightly curving posts secured, as shown, to their respective back members 10 and 1l, in such manner that when the file is closed, or the back of the file is held in position with the members 10 and 11 locked together, the said posts will overlap, and the end of the post 2O will nearly contact the inner portion of the member 10 and the end of the post 19 will nearly contact the inner surface of the member 11. Obviously, the posts on the member 11 are so placed as not to be in line with the posts on the member 10, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. These posts are designed to receive the leaves which are to be placed in the file, the leaves, obviously being perforated to receive all of the posts 19 and 20.

In practical operation, assuming that the iile contains leaves and the members are locked as shown in Fig. 1, when the file is being used for reference it opens in eX- actly the same manner as a book, the papers led therein being similar to the leaves of a book. If the operator desires to remove a leaf in the ile, or desires to insert a leaf therein he opens the file at the place desired. l-Ie then applies pressure, outwardly, on the spring 16, raising it out of the recess 18, thereby releasing the locking means and permitting the member 10 to move on lts hinge 12, opening the file and separating the posts 19 and 20. The members 10 and 11 will then both lie flat on the table, or nearly so, and the paper desired to be removed is raised ofi' of its retaining posts, or a leaf is inserted by threading it on its retaining posts. The operator then closes the iile, the tapering end 17 of the member 13 passing between the spring 16 and the inner sur- 'ace of the back member 11, the Weight of nected back members each right angular in cross section and forming a U-shaped back With the companion member when opera tively related thereto, a pair of L-shaped lock members secured on the opposing side Walls of the U-back and extending parallel to but spaced above the base thereof With their free ends normally extending alongside one another, one lock member having a closed inclined slot and the companion lock member having a tapered head formed with an open slot for registering with the first slot when the lock members are operatively related, and a Wire spring catch secured at Q n end to the base section of the back member carrying the iirst lock member and having its opposite end extending through the closed slot of the latter to be engaged by the tapered head and open slot of the companion lock member. y

. CHARLES F. MCBEE. Witnesses:

H. R. RAMSEY, B. STICKNEY. 

